Novelty wagging tail and method of use

ABSTRACT

The invention could comprise of a novelty tail and a method for its operation, the novelty tail comprising an attachment apparatus that attaches to an operator; an resilient member of a definite length that terminates at two ends with at least one end that affixes the resilient member to the attachment apparatus; an outer covering that at least partially encapsulates the resilient member; wherein a movement of an operator is transmitted from the attachment apparatus to the resilient member to move the novelty tail in a reciprocal or wagging manner.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

REFERENCE TO A “MICROFICHE APPENDIX”

Not Applicable.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to novelty tails that are worn by an operator. More particularity to those novelty tails having a resilient member that may facilitate an impartment of movement into the tail.

BACKGROUND

Novelty tails (which may include toy, costume, and other types of artificial tails that may be worn) have been used in a variety of manner. Children may use such tails that attach to their person to exercise their imagination and creativity to pretend to be different types of animals and other creatures during play. Adults may wear such devices as costumes for entertainment or as novelties for amusement of themselves or others. Such novelty tails generally comprise a body affecting an appearance and form of real or imaginary tail, the body may have at least one end that attaches the tail to operator. The one end could further comprise a belt or like securing to the waist of the person; or a clip, pin or like device for attaching the tail to clothing worn by the person; and the like. The bodies could be further made from or be filled with one or more stuffing materials that could generally absorb some of the force exerted by the operator walking around with it. As a result, the novelty tail in such situations generally does not have a wagging motion and may instead hang downward in a limp posture.

What may be needed therefor could be a novelty tail that could affect a wagging motion as propelled by forces created as the operator moves its hips. Such a novelty tail could have a resilient member in its body that can repeatedly deform when absorbing energy from the general side-to-side hip movement of the operator's body and subsequently generally release that energy when the resilient member repeatedly un-deforms to generally impart a wagging motion to the novelty tail.

SUMMARY OF ONE EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

Advantages of One or More Embodiments of the Present Invention

The various embodiments of the present invention may, but do not necessarily, achieve one or more of the following advantages:

to provide a novelty tail with resilient member that imparts a wagging motioning as propelled by the side-to-side hip movement of the operator; and

the ability to impart a enhanced wagging motion to a novelty tail when worn by a walking operator; and

to provide enhanced playing enjoyment of a novelty tail by utilizing an operator's movement to generally impart lifelike wagging movement to the novelty tail;

These and other advantages may be realized by reference to the remaining portions of the specification, claims, and abstract.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF ONE EMBODIMENT OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

One possible embodiment could be a novelty tail comprising an attachment apparatus that attaches to an operator; an resilient member of a definite length that terminates at two ends with at least one end that affixes the resilient member to the attachment apparatus; an outer covering that at least partially encapsulates the resilient member: wherein a movement of an operator is transmitted from the attachment apparatus to the resilient member to move the novelty tail in a reciprocal manner.

A process for operating a novelty tail comprising the following steps but not necessarily in the order shown; providing a novelty tail having an attachment apparatus that attaches the novelty tail to an operator and further attaches to the resilient member, the resilient member being further encapsulated within an outer covering. the outer covering constructed to provide a form of a tail, wherein the movement of a operator imparts a force to the resilient member that creates a wagging motion for the novelty tail; attaching the attachment apparatus to the operator; and creating movement by the operator in a manner that imparts a reciprocating motion to the resilient member.

The above description sets forth. rather broadly, a summary of one embodiment of the present invention so that the detailed description that follows may be better understood and contributions of the present invention to the art may be better appreciated. Some of the embodiments of the present invention may not include all of the features or characteristics listed to in the above summary. There are, of course, additional features of the invention that will be described below and will form the subject matter of claims. In this respect, before explaining at least one preferred embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of the construction and to the arrangement of the components set forth in the following description or as illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is substantially a cutaway perspective view of one possible embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is substantially a perspective view of one possible embodiment of the attachment apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is substantially a perspective view of one possible embodiment of the attachment apparatus of the present invention as attached by the operator.

FIG. 4 is substantially a perspective view of yet another possible embodiment of the attachment apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is substantially a perspective view of yet another possible embodiment of the attachment apparatus of the present invention as attached by the operator.

FIG. 6 is substantially a perspective view of still yet another possible embodiment of the attachment apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is substantially a perspective view of one possible embodiment of the resilient member of the present invention as attached to the attachment apparatus.

FIG. 8 is substantially a perspective view of another possible embodiment of the resilient member of the present invention as attached to the attachment apparatus.

FIG. 9 is substantially a perspective view of an operator operating the present invention.

FIG. 10 I substantially a perspective view of one possible embodiment of the outer cover of the invention.

FIG. 11 is substantially a schematic flow chart showing one possible embodiment of the process or methodology of operating the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF CERTAIN EMBODIMENTS OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

In the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this application. The drawings show, by way of illustration, specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. It is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and structural changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

The present invention 10 could comprise of novelty wagging tail 20 and a method for its use 100. As substantially shown in FIG. 1, the novelty wagging tail 20 in one embodiment could comprise of an attachment apparatus 30 for attaching novelty wagging tail 20 to an o operator, a resilient member 50 that is attached to the attachment apparatus 30, and an outer cover that encapsulates the resilient member 50 and further provides the novelty wagging tail 20 with its tail form and appearance.

The attachment apparatus generally attaches to the operator 12 between the hips 16 and proximate the backside of the waist 14. The attachment apparatus 30 for attaching the invention 10 to the operator 12 could be designed to attach generally to the operator 12 or to the operator's clothing 18. As substantially shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. the attachment apparatus 30 for the former could be a pair of straps 32 attached at a common end 34 to a plate 36. The plate 36 could be placed by the backside of the operator's waist 14 to allow each strap 32 to be placed along a respective side of the waist 14 to allow the other free ends 38 of the strap 32 to be tied to each other in the front of the waist 14 to secure the attachment apparatus 30 to the operator. The plate 36 could also foster attachment to the resilient member 50/outer cover 60.

As substantially shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the attachment apparatus 30 as the latter could be an inverted U-shaped clip 50 having two arms 42 connected by a common arm end 44, the arms otherwise terminating in two opposing and fee arm ends 46. The two opposing and free arm ends 46 could be biased to together (e.g., the clip 50 being made of resilient plastic) so as to snugly hold a portion of the operator's clothing 18 between them. In another version, as substantially shown in FIG. 6, the two arms 42 could movable connected together (e.g., by hinge) and a spring (or the like) 48 to bias the two free arm ends 46 towards one another in a substantial pinching action/motion.

The resilient member 50 could be designed and constructed to generally use the operator's hip motion to substantially impart a wagging motion to the invention 10. In one possible embodiment, as substantially shown in FIG. 7, the resilient member 50 could be a suitable two-ended length of coil spring 52 with a first spring end attached to the attachment apparatus while a second spring end is left substantially unattached. As substantially shown in FIG. 8, the resilient member 50 could also be a length of suitable plastic 58 having two ends with first length end 60 attached to the attachment apparatus 30 while the other second length end 62 is left substantially unattached.

In either version, as substantially shown in FIG. 9. the resilient member 50 could project outward from it attached end 54, 60/attachment apparatus 30 to generally be perpendicular to the back of the operator with its second unattached end 56/62 in a first position 64. As the hips of the operator swivel towards one direction, the motion of the hips could sway the unattached end 56/62 from the first position 64 in the direction of the movement of the hips and towards a second position 66 (e.g., towards a first side of the waist) distal from the first position 64. As the hips then counter sway into an opposite motion (e.g., side-to-side motion). the unattached end 56/62 moves from the second position 66, past the first position to a third position 68 (e.g., towards the second side of the waist) that may be in a mirror position from the second position 66. As this hip (e.g., side-to-side) motion is repeated (e.g., through walking, running, or swiveling hips), the resilient member 50 may translate the hip action into wagging or back-and-forth motion of the invention 10.

As substantially shown in FIG. 10. the outer cover 70 could in one embodiment could comprise a soft and flexible material (e.g., cloth, polyester, etc.) forming a cover body 72 with a channel 74 to receive the resilient member 50. The cover body 72 could take up numerous colorations shapes, sizes to impart various tail looks to the invention. The cover body 72 could further employ a lighting system 76 using light emitters such as LEDs connected to an electronic circuit/power source to impart a wide variety of light effects to the tail, while moving and otherwise.

As substantially shown in FIG. 11. one possible process or methodology 100 for operating the invention could start with step 102 attaching the invention. In this step, the invention could be attached to the operator. In the form of the invention using an attachment apparatus having straps, the plate could be placed at the back of the operator's waist (e.g., proximate to the buttocks.) Each strap is brought along a respective side of the operator's waist to generally present the unattached ends in the front of the waist where the unattached ends can be tied together to affix the invention to the operator. In the form of the invention using an inverted U-shaped clip, a portion of the operators clothing, such a rear part of the waistband of trousers, pants, shorts and the like can be placed in between the two arms to allow the biased unattached ends to close upon and pinch that portion of the clothing to hold the portion of clothing within the clip to attach the invention to the operator's clothing. As this step is substantially completed, the process 100 could proceed to the next step 104, imparting hip motion/wagging the invention.

In step 104. imparting hip motion/wagging the invention, the operator may commence a physical motion through its hips which will ultimately generate wagging motion by the invention 10. The operator's hip motion can be generated through a standard gait process (e.g., walking or running) or though more stationary motion process of swiveling hips (e.g., dancing or the like.). Generally the operator moves its hips/legs to swivel one side of the hip to lead in one direction (towards one side of the front of the body) and then reverses the motion to swivel the other side of the hip to lead in the opposite direction (towards the other side of the front body.) This set of motions then could be repeated for a desired period of time to cause the desired wagging effect.

As the hips of the operator swivel in one direction, the motion of the hips could sway the unattached end of the resilient member from the first position (pointing direct back and away from the back of the operator's waist) towards the direction of the movement of the hips to a second position (e.g., towards a first side of the waist) distal from the first position. As the hips then counter sway into an opposite motion, the unattached end could move from the second position, past the first position to a third position (distal from both the first and second positions and towards the second side of the waist) that may be in a mirror position from the second position. As this hip motion is repeated (e.g., through walking, running, or swiveling hips), the resilient member may translate the hip action into wagging motion of the invention. It could be possible due to resilient nature of the resilient member for that member to accentuate the hip movement into a very fast paced wagging motion wherein the invention is wagging faster than the hips are moving. If the operator wishes to terminate the process 100, the operator generally reverses the process 100.

CONCLUSION

Although the description above contains many specifications, these should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention but as merely providing illustrations of some of the presently preferred embodiments of this invention. Thus, the scope of the invention should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents rather than by the examples given.

As substantially shown and described here within the invention provides a novelty tail which translate the operator's hip motion into a wagging motion for the invention. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A novelty tail comprising: (A) an attachment apparatus that attaches to an operator; (B) an resilient member of a definite length that terminates at two ends with at least one end that affixes the resilient member to the attachment apparatus; (C) an outer covering that at least partially encapsulates the resilient member; wherein a movement of an operator is transmitted through the attachment apparatus to the resilient member to move the novelty tail in a reciprocal manner.
 2. The novelty tail of claim 1 wherein the attachment apparatus attaches to the operator by the operator's hips and proximate to a backside of the operator's waist.
 3. The novelty tail of claim 2 wherein the attachment apparatus is a clip that reversibly attaches to a clothing of the operator.
 4. The novelty tail of claim 3 wherein the clip has an inverted U-shape denoting two opposing arms that are biased towards each other.
 5. The novelty tail of claim 2 wherein the attachment apparatus is one or more straps attached to a plate.
 6. The novelty tail of claim 1 wherein the resilient member is a coil spring.
 7. The novelty tail of claim 1 wherein the resilient member is a strip of flexible polymer.
 8. The novelty tail of claim 1 wherein the outer covering further comprises a lighting system that provides one or more light emitters proximate to an external surface of outer covering.
 9. The novelty tail of claim 1 wherein the lighting system provides a lighting effect when the resilient member is moving reciprocally.
 10. The novelty tail of claim 1 wherein a combination of the resilient member and the outer cover is constructed to resemble an appearance of a tail of an animal.
 11. The novelty tail of claim 1 wherein a combination of the resilient member and the outer cover is constructed to resemble an appearance of a tail of an imaginary creature.
 12. A process for operating a novelty tail comprising the following steps but not necessarily in the order shown: (A) providing a novelty tail having an attachment apparatus that attaches the novelty tail to an operator and further attaches to a resilient member, the resilient member being further encapsulated within an outer covering, wherein the movement of a operator imparts a force to the resilient member that creates a wagging motion for the novelty tail; (B) attaching the attachment apparatus to the operator: and (C) creating a movement by the operator in a manner that imparts a reciprocating motion to the resilient member.
 13. The process of claim 12 wherein the attaching the attachment apparatus further comprises a step of affixing a clip to the operator's clothes.
 14. The process of claim 12 wherein the attaching the attachment apparatus further comprises a step of tying one or more straps around a portion of the operator's person.
 15. The process of claim 12 wherein the creating movement by the operator further comprises a side-to-side movement of the operator's hips.
 16. The process of claim 15 wherein the side-to-side movement is a swiveling motion.
 17. The process of claim 16 wherein the side-to-side movement encompasses the operator walking.
 18. The process of claim 16 wherein the side-to-side movement encompasses the operator running.
 19. The process of claim 12 further comprises a step of illuminating the outer covering.
 20. The process of claim 12 further comprises a step of illuminating the outer covering when the resilient member has the reciprocal motion. 